Forty years ago – the last time we all had to learn a “new Mass” – we knew that we could count on a certain group of people to guide us through unfamiliar rituals.

In parishes and Catholic schools around the world,  Religious Sisters and Brothers embraced the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council and shared their knowledge and excitement with the rest of us. Today, many of these same Religious are joining us in our newest journey.

Once again they are embracing the changes and walking through them with us. This time though, most of them are in their 60’s and 70’s rather than 30’s and 40’s. This time, they need us almost as much as we need them.
Through the years, the number of younger Religious bringing income to their communities has decreased at the same time as health care costs for their elderly Sisters have sky-rocketed.

Bishop LaValley said it well: “We are all beneficiaries of the tremendous contributions these women and men have made to the Church.  Through hard work, prayer, and much sacrifice, they built our Catholic schools and hospitals and ministered to the neediest among us.”

This coming weekend we have the chance to show exactly how much we appreciate the generosity of these Religious with generosity of our own in the annual Religious Retirement Appeal.

On the First Sunday of Advent, we took our first stumbling steps through a new Missal.

On the Third Sunday of Advent, we have the chance to remember those woman and men who have taken our hands through all the  steps of our faith journeys.

It’s our responsibility - and our privilege - to share in their care.